San Antonio Current — March 23, 2022

GAS IS STILL CHEAPER THAN HORSEPOWER | FLAMENCO ART Y PASIÓN | ALLORA CHEF'S HOMECOMING | MAR. 23 - APR. 5, 2022

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SAT, APRIL 2 • 10AM - 6PM & SUN, APRIL 3 • 11AM - 5PM 300 AUGUSTA ST. Tickets Online at bit.ly/faftickets

sacurrent.com | March 23 – April 5, 2022 | CURRENT

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in this issue Issue 22-06 /// March 23 – April 5, 2022

filing you choose

Hot Dish

36 Music Flooded Festival

South by Southwest’s commercialization is symbolic of Austin’s housing problems

Music Listings

San Antonio Current

Editor-in-Chief: Sanford Nowlin General Manager: Chelsea Bourque

Editorial

Digital Content Editor: Kelly Nelson Contributing Arts Editor: Bryan Rindfuss Food and Nightlife Writer: Nina Rangel Staff Writer: Michael Karlis Contributors: Abe Asher, Ron Bechtol, Enrique Bonilla, Daniel Conrad, Mackenzie Cook, Brianna Espinoza, Kiko Martinez, Mike McMahan, Dana Nichols, M. Solis, Gary Sweeney Editorial Interns: Ashley Allen

Marketing and Events

Marketing and Events Director: Cassandra Yardeni Events Manager: Chelsea Bourque Account Manager: Nathan Sokul Senior Account Executive: Mike Valdelamar Marketing and Events Coordinator: Julia Bentley Social Media Manager: Meradith Garcia

Creative Services

Creative Services Manager: Samantha Serna Production Interns: Pedro Macias, Marlene Mejia, Sydney Pujol

Circulation

Circulation Manager: Justin Giles

Euclid Media Group

Chief Executive Officer: Andrew Zelman Chief Operating Officers: Chris Keating, Michael Wagner VP of Digital Services: Stacy Volhein Director of Agency Services: Mindi Overman Digital Operations Coordinator: Jaime Monzon Senior Marketing and Events Director: Cassandra Yardeni www.euclidmediagroup.com

Sanford Nowlin

36 Feature

National Advertising: Voice Media Group (888) 278-9866, vmgadvertising.com

High-Tech Hall

Can SA’s Tech Port Center + Arena thrive with a mix of music and esports?

09 News

The Opener News in Brief

Saddle Sore

Think it’s expensive fueling up your car right now? Try owning a horse.

13 Calendar Calendar Picks

21 Arts

Pasión Play

Editorial: (210) 332-5448 Display Advertising: (210) 332-5448 Classified: (210) 227-CLAS / Fax - (210) 227-7733

German Return

Exhibits at Blue Star Contemporary highlight artists from its Berlin Residency program

The San Antonio Current is published by Euclid Media Group Verified Audit Member San Antonio Distribution – The Current is available free of charge, limited to one copy per reader.

29 Screens

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Oscar Buzz

San Antonio actor Jesse Borrego, a first-year Academy member, reveals his favorite films, performances of last year

Copyright: The entire contents of the San Antonio Current are copyright 2019 by Euclid Media Group LLC. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission of the publisher is prohibited. Publisher does not assume any liability for unsolicited manuscripts, materials, or other content. Any submission must include a stamped, self-addressed envelope. All editorial, advertising, and business correspondence should be mailed to the address listed above.

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31 Food

‘Time to Grow Up’

Tamara Adira’s Arte y Pasión continue to push flamenco’s boundaries with Confluencias

After launching his culinary career in SA, Robbie Nowlin is back and heading up the highly anticipated Allora

‘You Can’t Avoid Your Own Society’

Every One’s a Winner

Texas author Joe R. Lansdale discusses the evil inside us all

San Antonio Current 915 Dallas San Antonio, Texas 78215 sacurrent.com

The namesake pastries at Fat Tummy Empanadas excel, whichever

O

n the Cover: San Antonio’s Tech Port Center + Arena wants to be a player in both live music and esports. Cover design: Marlene Mejia

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CURRENT | March 23 – April 5, 2022 | sacurrent.com

J O I N

T H E

MARCH 31, 2022

Fiesta San Antonio March 31-April 10

l

F U N

HEMISFAIR

O F

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4 – 10 PM

www.fiestasanantonio.org #Fiesta2022

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#FiestaSA

Fireworks presented by Boeing

sacurrent.com | March 23 – April 5, 2022 | CURRENT

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CURRENT | March 23 – April 5, 2022 | sacurrent.com

H

Iconic Jacala Mexican Restaurant was devastated by an early morning fire last Thursday. The building’s unusual construction allowed the fire to burn for hours, meaning that by the time the blaze was extinguished, little of the 73-yearold site remained. Cynthia Lambert, who’d been running the restaurant with family members, said she is “heartbroken” by the damage.

H

Cured chef Steve McHugh has been named a James Beard Foundation finalist for the sixth time. McHugh was nominated alongside 2M Smokehouse pitmaster Esaul Ramos Jr. and Clementime chef John Russ for Best Chef, Texas, but was the only member of the trio to be named a finalist last week. San Antonio also had semifinalists in the Outstanding Restaurant category. McHugh will face chefs from Austin, Farmers Branch, Bellaire and Houston for the award.

H

The Texas National Guard is once again in the headlines for the state of its mission to “secure” the border.

The Texas Tribune reported last week that some 30 guard members earlier this year were ordered to stand watch outside some of the wealthiest private ranches in South Texas, more than an hour from the border they’d been charged by Gov. Greg Abbott to guard. “We’re essentially mall security,” one guard member said.

Another San Antonio Starbucks location has filed to unionize. Workers at the downtown East Houston Street location are following the lead of workers at the Loop 410 and Vance Jackson Road store, which became the first in Texas to join the nationwide unionization push.

Workers at the downtown store wrote that Starbucks’ corporate leadership is “out of touch with what we partners, the heart of the Starbucks experience, need to simply survive and succeed.” — Abe Asher

YOU SAID IT!

“Public schools in this country are not places of indoctrination.

They are not places where the ideas children read about are determined by those people who are in power.”

— Amy Senia

Attorney on Northside ISD’s decision to pull 110 books from its librariesafter a GOP state lawmaker requested a review of books that make students feel “uncomfortable

ASSCLOWN ALERT

Defending the Oath Keepers With Texas Lawyer Sidney Powell Assclown Alert is a column of opinion, analysis and snark.

Dallas attorney Sidney Powell just doesn’t appear ready to get off the Trump Train.

After promising to help Donald Trump “release the kraken” and filing multiple suits on his behalf to throw out the legitimate results of the 2020 election, Powell is now covering legal expenses for at least one defendant, possibly more, in the federal case against the Oath Keepers, a right-wing extremist group accused of playing a key part in the Jan. 6 insurrection, Buzzfeed reports.

Last month, the Justice Department brought charges of seditious conspiracy against the militant group’s founder and 10 other members for allegedly plotting the use of force to stop President Joe Biden from taking office. So far, the case is the highest-profile prosecution to come out of the federal investigation of the Capitol riot.

Defending the Republic, an entity set up by Powell in the wake of the election, had raised $15 million by last August, Buzzfeed reports, citing audited financials. Although the group’s stated purpose is to “defend the constitutional rights of all Americans,” details about how it’s spending the money is sketchy, according to the news site.

Even so, Buzzfeed said it’s learned that Defending the Republic has been making monthly payments to the defense attorney for Kelly Meggs, one of the Oath Keepers caught in the federal sweep. Meggs’ attorney, Jonathon Moseley, told the site he’s aware of “at least

U.S. bank regulators hit San Antonio’s USAA Federal Savings Bank with a $140 million fine last week, alleging that the enterprise failed to adequately monitor for potential money laundering. The fine is the third that the bank has faced since 2019. In the latest of those, the Federal Crimes Enforcement Network charges that the bank failed to report thousands of suspicious transitions by customers.

Mayor Ron Nirenberg and city council threw support behind a proposal to rewrite an agreement with Zachry Hospitality that would kickstart development of the northwest corner of Hemisfair. Zachry was supposed to begin work on the project in summer 2018 but has yet to break ground due to COVID-19 and other challenges. A vote on a new agreement could take place in April.

news

That Rocks/That Sucks

Wikimedia Commons / Gage Skidmore

three or four other defendants who have that arrangement.”

Powell was unavailable for comment, as was her attorney, and so was Defending the Republic’s attorney, Buzzfeed noted.

The new revelation about Powell comes days after the State Bar of Texas filed a disciplinary action accusing her of professional misconduct over the multiple suits she filed to overturn the election. The bar association’s Commission for Lawyer Discipline reported that it’s received 10 separate complaints about Powell since late 2020.

Apparently, some assclowns like to keep multiple irons in the fire, even if it increases their chances of getting burned. — Sanford Nowlin

A plan by Elon Musk’s Boring Co. to build a nine-mile tunnel between San Antonio’s airport and downtown will get a feasibility study. The Alamo Regional Mobility Authority last week voted to further analyze the plan, which would carry passengers underground in semi-autonomous Teslas. The project is projected to cost up to $289 million, and Boring Co. has said that it will only kick in $45 million.

— Abe Asher

usaa

Find more news coverage every day at sacurrent.com

DO NOT UNLEASH THE FURRY! Visit saacs.net for more information.

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CURRENT | March 23 – April 5, 2022 | sacurrent.com

news Saddle Sore

Think it’s expensive fueling up your car right now? Try owning a horse.

BY MICHAEL KARLIS

V

iral video from a recent TV news report captured a group of 20 or so men fed-up with ever-rising gas prices riding horses through the streets of Dallas, and TikTok is awash in clips of horse owners having a laugh at those of us stuck paying big at the pump.

Stands to figure. Due to myriad factors such as the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the average national price for a gallon of regular gas reached an all-time high of $4.17 on March 8, according to the American Automobile Association.

In response, more Americans are buying electric vehicles, with sales expected to jump 30% this year, research firm AutoPacific projects. Even so, electric cars are expensive, running $55,000 on average.

It does seem time to ponder whether trading in four for a saddle and cowboy hat would be a smart economic move.

The state of Texas has no laws regarding the safe riding of horses on public streets, meaning it’s legal to commute to work in the saddle. But what breed is the best for the daily commuter?

Adding it up Americans on average drive 39 miles per day, according to a 2019 U.S Department of Transportation report. Luckily Arabian horses, a breed regarded for their endurance, can trot anywhere from 25-50 miles a day. In fact, one Arabian mare for sale in San Antonio reportedly completed the 100mile Tevis race in fewer than 24 hours, according to its description on Oodle Marketplace.

As of press time, that speed demon of a horse was on sale for just $3,800. In contrast, the average used car cost the American consumer $28,205 last year, according to Kelly Blue Book. Indeed, ready-to-ride Arabian horses go for anywhere between $3,500 and $7,000 online.

Photo Illustration by Samantha Serna

That starts to look like quite the deal when you consider Texas drivers also spend $1,725 a year on average for insurance, according to a 2022 Nerdwallet report.

Hidden costs But before anyone drops coin on a 1,000-pound mammal, it’s worth considering that there are a lot of hidden costs associated with owning a horse.

Unlike a car, you can’t park a horse in the garage. Your local homeowners association also is likely to have rules about keeping backyard livestock. So, unless you have a forgiving HOA and two acres of property — the recommended acreage per horse — you’ll have to pony for boarding.

Irons Equestrian Center, located

on the San Antonio’s far North Side, provides shelter for horse owners and even feeds the animals three times a day — at a price of $710 a month. It’s also one of the least expensive stables in the Alamo City.

Automobiles also don’t require visits from a farrier every four to six weeks, which runs $150-$200 per visit. Nor do cars need to visit the veterinarian regularly.

Side-by-side comparison As if those costs aren’t high enough, horses need to be fed and must graze between meals. An active horse also requires vitamin supplements and additional hay, according to experts.

Those wanting to make the switch to steed will need a saddle, bridle and

reins — all of which will cost at least a few hundred dollars. And don’t forget riding lessons if you’re not already an experienced rider.

In contrast, the average American driver gets around 25 miles per gallon and puts in 39 miles daily behind the wheel. That adds up to around $160 monthly on gas. Not cheap, but not exactly the kind of expense that goes into owning a horse.

Giving the finger to rising gas prices by swapping out a pickup for saying giddyup is a novel idea. And although many American yearn for simpler times, the logistical cost of owning, caring, and maintaining a stallion is more expensive than just sucking it up at the pump.

Plus, gas prices have finally started to decline anyway.

sacurrent.com | March 23 – April 5, 2022 | CURRENT

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APRIL 1 & 2 First Weekend of Fiesta!

FRIDAY, APRIL 1 - 5 TO 11 P.M.

BLUE OYSTER CULT •STONEY LA RUE LITTLE JOE LA FAMILIA •CHINGY Q: THE MUSIC OF QUEEN •RECKLESS KELLY •LADEZZ •J TOWERZ MOTHERSHIP •TRIBUTE TO LED ZEPPELIN •TREY GONZALEZ •THE LIBERTY BAND SATURDAY, APRIL 2 - NOON TO 11 P.M.

POP EVIL •JOSH ABBOTT BAND SPIN DOCTORS •BOBBY PULIDO SAINT ASONIA •KYLE PARK •MASIZZO •Y ALL OUT BOY

PUDDLE OF MUDD •CODY CANADA AND THE DEPARTED •SUNNY SAUCEDA’ •PASSING STRANGERS

BRETT SCALLIONS OF FUEL •CLAY HOLLIS •BOMBASTA •ELECTRIC LOVE TEMPLE BLACK HEART SAINTS •JOYOUS WOLF •CACTUS COUNTRY •DEMMI GARCIA-MARTINEZ •GROOVE MONKEY

TICKETS

CARNIVAL RIDES AND GAMES • FIREWORKS SPECTACULAR PRODUCED BY ILLUMINATION FIREWORKS (FRIDAY ONLY)

12

Entertainment is subject to change without notification.

VIP EXPERIENCE $160* AVAILABLE ONLINE ONLY / FRIDAY $25 AT THE GATE / SATURDAY $25 AT THE GATE / CHILDREN FREE (12 AND UNDER) STORES 1 DAY PRE-SALE TICKET (FRIDAY OR SATURDAY) $25* AVAILABLE FEBRUARY 27-APRIL 1 ONLINE AND AT ALL TEXAS STORES 2 DAY PRE-SALE TICKET (FRIDAY AND SATURDAY) $35* AVAILABLE FEBURARY 7-APRIL 1 ONLINE AND AT ALL TEXAS PRESENT YOUR 2-DAY PRE-SALE TICKET AT AN ENTRANCE GATE ON FRIDAY TO RECEIVE YOUR 2-DAY ADMISSION WRISTBAND Proceeds fund St. Mary’s University student scholarships and alumni and university programs. *Price includes convenience fee.

CURRENT | March 23 - April 5, 2022 | sacurrent.com

Courtesy of Texas Cavaliers

FIESTA SAN ANTONIO

It would be impossible to include all the events that take place during the 11-day citywide party known as Fiesta San Antonio, so we’ll cover some highlights here and point the biggest Fiesta enthusiasts to the official website for an exhaustive rundown of all the celebrations. For a complete schedule, including car shows, mariachi festivals and military demonstrations, visit fiestasanantonio.org.— Kiko Martinez

FRI | 04.01 SUN | 04.10 SPECIAL EVENT

FIESTA DE LOS REYES AT MARKET SQUARE

This culturally rich celebration features live performances, more than 30 food booths and fun for the entire family. If you’re looking to experience a great mix of music genres — from Tejano to Latin jazz to country — and more cuisine than you can imagine (save us an agua de sandia and a chicken-on-a-stick), El Mercado may be a great addition to your list of stops. Free, 10 a.m.-midnight Sunday-Friday, 10 a.m.-1 a.m. Saturday, Market Square, 514 W. Commerce St., fiestadelosreyes.com.

FRI | 04.01 SUN | 04.03 SPECIAL EVENT

A TASTE OF NEW ORLEANS

The highlights of the 35th Annual A Taste of New Orleans are Big Easy-style music and food, including gumbo, shrimp creole, crab rolls, beignets and other waistline-expand-

ing delights. You can even pretend you’re Bobby Boucher and feast on some alligator. $12-$15 (children 10 and under free), 5-11 p.m. Friday, noon-11 p.m. Saturday, noon-10 p.m. Sunday, Sunken Garden Theater, 3875 N. St. Mary’s St., saza.org.

FRI | 04.01 SAT | 04.02 SPECIAL EVEN T

FIESTA OYSTER BAKE

Sponsored by the St. Mary’s University Alumni Association, the Oyster Bake music festival attracts more than 60,000 attendees annually. The celebration includes more than 50 bands and entertainers, along with 100,000 of its namesake oysters prepared in a variety of ways. Baked isn’t the only option. This year’s highlights — among the bands, not the oysters — include sci fi-inspired hard rockers Blue Öyster Cult (an inspired booking choice based on the band’s name alone) and Missouri rapper Chingy on Friday, along with Texas country stalwarts the Josh Abbott Band and Tejano trailblazer Bobby Pulido on Saturday. $20-$25 (children 12 and under free), 5-11 p.m. Friday, noon-11 p.m. Saturday, St. Mary’s University, 1 Camino Santa Maria, oysterbake.com.

calendar

Jaime Monzon

Jaime Monzon

SAT | 04.02 SUN | 04.03 SPECIAL EVEN T

FIESTA ARTS FAIR

This juried national art show features 110 artists from across the United States. Along with Fiesta food and beverage booths, the fair will feature two music stages and a children’s area with art activities. $5-$15, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, Southwest School of Art, 300 Augusta, swschool.org.

SAT | 04.02 SPECIAL EVEN T

FIESTA DE LOS NIÑOS

Kids and adults alike should get a kick out of the robots and STEM-related activities that feature in this event. A free, live-streaming collegiate eSports tournament will also take place all day. Free, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., San Antonio Museum of Science and Technology, 102 Mabry Drive, fiestadelosninos. com.

MON | 04.04 SPECIAL EVEN T

THE TEXAS CAVALIERS RIVER PARADE

This longtime Fiesta favorite allows viewers to watch colorful floats travel the San Antonio River through downtown. If you want to enjoy the eye candy while avoiding the crowds, the River Parade will be broadcast live on KSAT and its affiliate stations. $18-$28, 7-9:30 p.m., San Antonio River Walk, texascavaliers.org.

Reminder:

Although live events have returned, the COVID-19 pandemic is still with us. Check with venues to make sure scheduled events are still happening, and please follow all health and safety guidelines.

improvtx.com/sanantonio | 618 Nw Loop 410, SaN ANTONIO, TX 78216 | 210•541•8805

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MAR 24 MAR 26

MAR 27

APR 1 APR 3

APR 6

APR 8 APR 9

Yannis Pappas

Josh Cabaza

Erik Griffin

Daniel Sosa

Becky Robinson

CURRENT | March 23 - April 5, 2022 | sacurrent.com

calendar FRI | 03.25 FI LM

FOODIE CINEMA: MULAN Embark on a simultaneous live-action film and dinnertime adventure at the Foodie Cinema screening of the 2020 movie Mulan, hosted by the San Antonio Botanical Garden. Diners will be able to feast on the same meals depicted on screen throughout the movie, including congee and Mu Shu chicken lettuce wraps. A green tea cocktail will wash it all down. While the film itself is family-friendly, the event is for adults 21 and up. $50, 6:30 p.m., San Antonio Botanical Garden, 555 Funston Place, (210) 536-1400, sabot.org. — Dana Nichols

Courtesy Photo / Freeman Coliseum

Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment

FRI | 03.25

Joel Simon

SUN | 03.27

TH EATER

SPECIAL EVEN T

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC LIVE: WHEN WOMEN RULED THE WORLD

35MM: A MUSICAL EXHIBITION Creator Ryan Scott Oliver weaves together visual and musical arts to form a cohesive theatrical experience that aims to guide audiences through an emotional journey that stimulates the senses. Photographs are paired with pop and rock sounds to tell 15 snapshot stories, ranging from the tales of tragic star-crossed lovers to evil high school antics.

Oliver’s multimedia exploration of the arts has left an indelible mark on audiences across the globe since its 2010 debut. $15-45, 7:30 p.m. Fri-

Who runs the world? Scholars of ancient Egypt may argue that it’s women. Kara Cooney, professor of Egyptian Art and Architecture at UCLA, brings forth her expertise in the ancient world in an exploration of the often-untold histories of female rule and leadership in Egypt. Cleopatra may be remembered as a femme fatale linked with Julius Caesar and Mark Antony; Neferusobek as the first woman to take official title as King; and Nefertiti for her and her husband’s reign during cultural upheaval — but their stories go beyond those skimmed over in many of the history books. In her exploration, Cooney brings to light the experiences of figures who played major roles in the growth and prosperity of ancient Egypt despite the society’s patriarchal frameworks. $20-45, 4 p.m., Tobin Center for the Performing Arts, 100 Auditorium Circle, (210) 223-8624, tobincenter.org. — DN

day and Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday March 25-April 16 (additional showtimes available online), The Public Theater of San Antonio, 800 W. Ashby Place, (210) 733-7258, thepublicsa.org. — DN

and Frostine Shake (hey, that’s a damn good name, too!). $20-$100, 7

the Grizzlies’ explosive point guard Ja Morant. When the teams met

p.m., Bonham Exchange, 411 Bonham St., (210) 224-9219, instagram.com/

in Memphis last month, Morant posterized Spurs center Jakob Poeltl

pastiepops. — Mike McMahan

and pulled off a ridiculous buzzer-beating alley-oop to close out the first half — all on his way to an astounding 52 points. Morant’s buzzer-beater quickly became Instagram’s most-viewed NBA highlight ever, racking up 42 million views. Morant presents a stiff challenge for Spurs captain Dejounte Murray and San Antonio’s collective defense when they take the hardwood on Wednesday night. As the regular season draws to a close, the uneven Spurs face the prospect of falling short of the playoffs for the third consecutive season. $15-$751, 7:30pm, AT&T Center, One AT&T Center, (210) 444-5000, attcenter.com, KENS. — M. Solis

Courtesy of The Public Theater

SAT | 03.26 BURLESQUE

PASTIE POPS: VIVA LA TEASE Led by “boylesque” performer Jasper St. James, the Pastie Pops’ latest

Courtesy of The Pastie Pops

WED | 03.30 SPORTS

burlesque and variety show will take over the legendary Rainbow

SPURS VS. GRIZZLIES

Room at the Bonham. Urging attendees to “put on your flower crown

With 911 total regular season wins and counting, the Memphis Grizzlies

and show off your fiesta medals,” the Pasties will showcase performers

are one of six NBA franchises with fewer victories than San Antonio

include Vixy Van Hellen (owner of what may be the best burlesque

Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich. The Grizzlies have had San Antonio’s

stage name of all time), Topsy Curvy, Mary Annette, Scarlett Valentine

number this season, though. So say a trio of convincing wins led by

Twitter / spurs

sacurrent.com | March 23 - April 5, 2022 | CURRENT

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13th Annual

Open Weekends: Now – Apr 24

10 AM To Dusk Rain Or Shine | No Pets -Camping Available-

Location

1883 Old Hwy 20 Mcdade, Tx 78650

35 Miles East Of Austin -Or2 Hrs Northeast Of San Antonio

Entertainment

Join Robin Hood & Lady Marian as they host full contact jousting, falconry, swordplay, archery, juggling, comedy, theater & more. Medieval England comes to life in Central Texas.

Artisans + Merchants We host a grand selection of hand-crafted goods in Central Texas. We offer demonstrations like glass blowing, blacksmithing, pottery spinning, leather armor making, weaving, jewelry & art creation, & others.

Song + Dance

You'll find minstrels, bards, storytellers, magicians, jugglers, & all types of performers strolling our lanes & playing on our stages. If you're lucky, you may spot a faery or two!

Food + Drink

From trenchers weighty with tasty fare to tankards overflowing with foamy mead, there's plenty to eat and drink at Sherwood Forest Faire. You'll discover medieval treats & delicacies.

Tickets On Sale Now At Sher woodforestfaire.com | (512)222-6680 | Follow Us On 16

CURRENT | March 23 - April 5, 2022 | sacurrent.com

calendar FRI | 04.01 COMEDY

STEVE-O Jackass legend Steve-O is still a maniac. It’s just that these days, he’s an older, sober maniac. But let’s not accuse him of being wiser, however.

The comedic punishment-taker’s Bucket List Tour features stories and stunts that weren’t allowed on the series. Given what was allowed, we can only imagine the wince-worthy shenanigans that promises. Steve-O has endured a rocky ride to get to this point. He started off on Jackass, of course, pioneering an era of “reality” comedy that — along with Borat — foreshadowed the popularity of YouTube hijinks. The Jackass gang seemed pretty fucked-up on screen, so it wasn’t surprising that Steve-O spiraled into drug and alcohol use, only to be saved by the recovery “sage” Dr. Drew Pinksy. And what didn’t make it onto TV? Well, Steve-O caught heat for joking, during the Comedy Central Roast of Charlie Sheen, that “the last time this many nobodies were at a roast, at least Great White was playing.” Oof. He later asked for the clip to be removed from the show. $40-$195, 7 p.m., Charline McCombs Empire Theatre, 226 N. St. Mary’s St., (210) 226-5700, majesticempire.com. — MM

Courtesy of Tobin Center for the Performing Arts

SUN | 04.03 COMEDY

Courtesy of Empire Theatre

TUE | 04.05 THU | 04.07 SPECIAL EVENT

WHITNEY CUMMINGS

Best known for creating the sitcom Two Broke Girls, Whitney Cummings got her start as a panelist on Chelsea Lately. She landed her first onehour special, Whitney Cummings: Money Shot, on Comedy Central in 2010, and the double entendres were off and rolling. The comedian published I’m Fine… And Other Lies, a collection of personal essays, in 2017, then had a brush with notoriety in 2018 when she became a producer for the Roseanne reboot. She departed that role, however, when the oft-charming titular star unloaded some racist tweets and was later shown the door. The question posed by Cummings’s 2019 Netflix special, Can I Touch It?, has seemingly been answered by this outing, titled the Touch Me Tour. $29.50-$55, 7 p.m., Tobin Center for the Performing Arts, 100 Auditorium Circle, (210) 223-8624, tobincenter.org. — MM

FIESTA CORNYATION: THE COURT OF RESILIENT? MAGNIFICENCE

Greg Abbott’s worst nightmares” is more apropos. Cornyation first took

which will find the performers wearing traditional costumes, has been

Though officially described as “adult-oriented satire,” that doesn’t

place in 1951, and it’s since emerged as one of the city’s preeminent

a tradition since 1952. Free, 6-8 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday, San Antonio River

really sum up the annual Fiesta tradition, which is making its return

LGBTQIA+ events. The focus remains costumed performers having a

Walk, thesanantonioriverwalk.com. — MM

after a two-year COVID-forced hiatus. Perhaps “a pageant gayer than

laugh at local politics. This year, the event will crown Jesse Mata. Keep in mind, it’s not just for laughs, since Cornyation funds all sorts of local nonprofits to the tune of around $200,000. $15-$45, 7 p.m. and 10 p.m.

Tuesday-Thursday, Charline McCombs Empire Theatre, 226 N. St. Mary’s St., (210) 226-5700, majesticempire.com. — MM

TUE | 04.05 THU | 04.07 MUSIC

FORD MARIACHI FESTIVAL It’s hard to imagine what says “Fiesta!” more than mariachi music on the San Antonio River Walk. You can sit outside with your cool, refreshing beverage of choice as bands of talented mariachis on boats Julián P. Ledezma

float the river, stopping periodically to entertain revelers. The event,

Courtesy of Visit San Antonio

sacurrent.com | March 23 - April 5, 2022 | CURRENT

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In the heart of the San Antonio Riverwalk, El Camino is a beacon for the downtown community to join and enjoy a range of selections from our guest gourmet food trucks paired with precisely created cocktails.

El Camino is the perfect spot to bring together friends, family and furry companions under our eco-consciously designed covered seating with a fully stocked bar that includes, frozen drinks, craft brews, and top-shelf cocktails.

ElCaminoSA.com | Downtown SATX 1009 Ave. B 18

CURRENT | March 23 - April 5, 2022 | sacurrent.com

WITH SPECIAL GUEST

SATURDAY APRIL 16

MAJESTIC THEATRE TICKETS AVAILABLE AT MAJESTICEMPIRE.COM

sacurrent.com | March 23 - April 5, 2022 | CURRENT

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Presented by

AHN 2022 Fiesta Medal available at Christian Brothers Automotive on Austin Highway and Monarch Trophy on US Hwy 281

Hosted by UIW

Friday, April 1

5:30 to 11:30 pm

at the University

of the Incarnate Word, 4301 Broadway

Parking at UIW Building at SW Corner of Broadway and Hildebrand VIA Bus Routes 8, 9, 14, and 509 stop at UIW (Broadway and Hildebrand) Also use FREE Park & Ride Bus service Shuttles will run from 5pm to midnight: AH Methodist Church, AH High School, Incarnate Word High School, and SA Zoo Garage (on Tuleta).

NO attendee parking on the UIW campus. Free BICYCLE parking on UIW Campus

Hotcakes • Skyrocket • Finding Friday Ruben V

•

323rd Army Rock Band

Admission: CHILDREN UNDER 12 AND ACTIVE DUTY & RESERVE MILITARY FREE $5 ages 12-17 and students with school ID; $15 adults Proceeds benefit Alamo Heights Rotary Charities and Scholarships Event Sponsors:

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CURRENT | March 23 - April 5, 2022 | sacurrent.com

arts

Pasión Play

Tamara Adira’s Arte y Pasión continue to push flamenco’s boundaries with Confluencias

BY MARCO AQUINO

T

he flamenco troupe Arte y Pasión, headed by dancer Tamara Adira, returned to the stage last week with its latest production, Confluencias. After premiering at Brick at Blue Star Thursday, the show then moved to the more intimate Carmens de La Calle for two Friday engagements.

For the production, the troupe enlisted help from vocalist Celia Sellars of Austin; guitarist Beto Boyd of Portland, Oregon; and dancer El Caballero from Madrid, Spain.

Guitarist Randy Cordero, dancer Genevive Obregon, percussionist Alex Nicholas and vocalist Andrea “Vocab” Sanderson — all of San Antonio — rounded out the cast.

The ensemble was a confluence of global talent, which seemed appropriate given the theme for the night: the merging of cultures and histories.

The Brick performance began with the sounds of clicking castanets performed by Adira. Notwithstanding an overworked fog machine and some lengthy, spoken word narratives, the members of Arte y Pasión delivered riveting performances.

With rapid-fire footwork and powerful energy, El Caballero’s solos nearly stole the show, each drawing a standing ovation. The more subtle stylings of Obregon and Adira held the production together. In one highlight, Sanderson performed Nina Simone’s “Feeling Good” before the tune transitioned into a flamenco number again showcasing El Caballero.

Confluencias is the latest successful project spearheaded by dancer and choreographer Adira. However, her acceptance into San Antonio’s flamenco community didn’t come easy.

A relative newcomer to the art form, Adira was greeted as black sheep when Arte y Pasión burst onto the scene in 2009.

Her introduction came through elaborate stage shows such as 2010’s Generaciones, which starred the late masters Teo Morca and Timo Lozano. In 2015, the troupe’s production of Colores, a visual feast featuring centaurs and vibrantly hued dance vignettes, was picked up as part of the Carver Community Cultural Center’s 2015 season.

But with a tendency towards high-concept productions, often pairing flamenco with other genres, Adira irked more than a few dancers and musicians along the way.

“It was tough being the butt of jokes over

Courtesy Photo / Tamara Adira

the years,” Adira said. “I was criticized for dancing badly, for thinking I was a better dancer than I was. … People around me said I wasn’t dancing flamenco. But I just kept learning. ... I never stopped learning.”

As such, Adira may be San Antonio’s most visible flamenco artist. A distinction she’s earned by making an art form often shrouded in mystery and tradition accessible to contemporary audiences.

Pushing forward

No more chases

Adira weathered the criticism and pushed forward with her vision. As a result, she’s forged a flamenco troupe unlike any other in San Antonio. Arte y Pasión doesn’t treat flamenco as a museum piece. Rather, the troupe uses flamenco to express the urgency of current events, bringing the ancient art form new relevance.

Since the troupe’s 2017 production Estrellas, inspired by the “genetic memory of trauma carried as an American Jew,” Adira has focused on bringing attention to social issues with each new work. In 2020 the troupe protested the treatment of migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border with Mantas de Luz. With Confluencias the troupe is commenting on the displacement of migrants and refugees around the world.

These days, Adira favors intimate spaces and unconventional venues, seeing them as a means to reach new viewers. Her inventive approach often includes poetry, striking visuals and varied collaborations with outside musicians. Again, part of the intent is to draw audiences unfamiliar with flamenco.

Although she’s willing to blur lines between musical genres and performance styles, Adira first and foremost considers herself a flamenco dancer. She speaks of her work like an artist comfortable in her own skin, adding that she’s happy with the group’s current direction and form.

“In the past, I chased after people,” she said of Arte y Pasión’s periodic lineup changes.

“But now, everyone is here because they want to be here and want to make something creative.”

Beyond her work leading the troupe, Adira was cast in Ballet San Antonio’s production of Don Quixote, part of its 2021-2022 season at the Tobin Center. She called the opportunity “a gift from God, if there is one.”

Next, Arte y Pasión will perform alongside the world-renowned dancer Belen Maya when she arrives in San Antonio in late May. “When you fear that you can’t go on without somebody, you wonder if you’re going to be successful, but then, all of a sudden, other opportunities start flooding in,” Adira said.

Find more arts coverage every day at sacurrent.com

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CURRENT | March 23 - April 5, 2022 | sacurrent.com

arts ‘You Can’t Avoid Your Own Society’ Texas author Joe R. Lansdale discusses the evil inside us all

BY MAX BOOTH III

I

n East Texas thriller author Joe R. Lansdale’s Born for Trouble: The Further Adventures of Hap and Leonard, due out later this month, the book’s protagonists stumble upon a half-nude woman bleeding to death near Caddo Lake — a bayou bordering Louisiana and the Lone Star State.

Her feet are a bloody mess, and an arrow juts from her side. With her last breaths, the woman reveals she’s a sex worker who’s been abducted by a pair of psychos fixated on raping and hunting her for sport.

Somehow, though, the grisliest aspect of the scene is the mound of fire ants she’s managed to fall on while fleeing her captors. It’s the kind of detail only a veteran writer would think to include, and it’s enough to make even the most fearless reader wince.

Fans of Lansdale’s writing won’t be too surprised, though. Since the early 1980s, the author has racked up a formidable following and plenty of awards for describing the bleak side of the universe.

In recent years, Lansdale’s work has gained a wider audience thanks to Sundance’s 2016-2018 Hap and Leonard series based on his crime-solving duo, and from movie adaptations of his Cold In July and Bubba Ho-Tep.

Despicable people, despicable ideas “Writing is supposed to be challenging,” Lansdale told The Current. “Sometimes it’s about writing despicable people and despicable ideas, which doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re representing those as your beliefs, but that’s what fiction is. That’s what makes it challenging.”

Dealing with dark and nasty themes is something Lansdale has embraced

Facebook / Joe R. Lansdale

up against serial killers, white supremthrough his career, which has included acists, deranged cultists, crooked cops writing horror, mysteries, Westerns, ad- and even the Dixie Mafia. All while venture yarns and even comic books. cracking jokes with each other and “Sometimes I do it to point at certain munching on copious helpings of things and say, ‘Look at this’ — and vanilla wafer cookies. not to get a gross out, but to consider Beyond their appearance the Sunwhat this is about and why it occurred. dance series, which starred James PureHow we can do better,” Lansdale said. foy and the late Michael K. Williams, “Also, a lot of it’s just the duo has turned up that pure fascination in more than a dozen we have with darkness novels and a handful Born for Trouble: and evil. And the reaof story collections.

The Further son we’re fascinated by Adventures of it is all of us have that Books to screen Hap and Leonard element in us. That releases March 21 doesn’t mean all of us Hap and Leonard are evil, but it means wasn’t Lansdale’s first through Tachyon we recognize it and are rodeo with film and Publications. appalled by it because television. He also we know that it exists. wrote one of the origInside us. There’s some inal screenplay drafts place in there where we understand for his novel Cold in July, in addition where that comes from, and that’s the to episodes of Shudder’s Creepshow scary part.” and an upcoming George R.R. Martin short film adaptation of the Howard Waldrop’s short story “Night of the The Boys Cooters,” directed by and starring VinLansdale has been writing about Hap cent D’Onofrio.

Fans of Batman: The Animated Series and Leonard for more than 30 years — “The Boys,” as he calls them. Hap Col- also owe Lansdale their adoration for contributing to several episodes. Same lins is “a self-proclaimed white trash goes for the film Son of Batman, which rebel,” and Leonard Pine, “a toughLansdale penned. as-nails Black, gay, Vietnam vet and One of Lansdale’s best-known horror Republican,” the author notes. The two stories, “Incident On and Off a Mounare as close as friends can get. tain Road” was adapted for Showtime’s Since their debut in Lansdale’s 1990 Masters of Horror, and three more were novel, Savage Season, the pair has gone

adapted for Netflix’s Love, Death & Robots.

However, aside from the Hap and Leonard series, his best-known adapted work might be Don Coscarelli’s Bubba Ho-Tep, featuring Bruce Campbell as a geriatric Elvis Presley battling a mummy in an old folks’ home.

An adaptation of Lansdale’s novel The Thicket was announced in 2014 with Peter Dinklage attached to star. However, Lansdale the Game of Thrones star have since parted ways with the project and it’s no longer under development.

Writing about now Even so, the movie side of the Lansdale empire shows no sign of slowing down. The author is set to direct his first film, an adaptation of his short story “The Projectionist” from a screenplay by his son Keith — assuming COVID-19 doesn’t get in the way.

Lansdale isn’t sure how much the pandemic has affected his writing, however.

“I do believe some of that has seeped into maybe my last couple of novels,” he said. “Otherwise, I don’t know, but I’ve always been of the opinion that you’re always writing about now, whether you write about the old West, whether you write about the future, it’s still now, because that’s what you know, and that’s what you’re experiencing. You can’t avoid your own society.”

sacurrent.com | March 23 - April 5, 2022 | CURRENT

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arts German Return

Exhibits at Blue Star Contemporary highlight artists from its Berlin Residency program

BY MARCO AQUINO

A

s part of San Antonio’s Contemporary Art Month, Blue Star Contemporary (BSC) is presenting a trio of exhibits by past participants in its three-month residency at Künstlerhaus Bethanien in Berlin, Germany.

The exhibitions, which opened March 4, will run through May 29.

BSC selects four artists annually to live and work in Berlin, where they have access to workshops and exhibition opportunities. The artists whose work is now on display include Jimmy James Canales, Megan Harrison and Justin Kovar, each of whom took part in the program’s 2018-2019 cycle. The work in each exhibit reflects how the artists have fared since their return from Berlin and how each have coped with the COVID-19 pandemic.

works for private contemplation, to be opened or held in quiet places,” Harrison writes in an artist statement. “The making of these personal altar pieces and cherished objects can be interpreted as spiritual acts, expressions of healing and love…”

Jimmy James Canales: ‘The Line Layer’

Canales’ exhibition transforms a gallery space into a fantastical industrial panorama filled with mechanical figures, each centered within groupings of geometric shapes, patterns and material resembling an obstacle course.

“These assemblages are transformed into archetypal obstacles including the mountain, the bridge, the tower, the throne, the web, stepping stones and finally, the grotto,” Canales explains in Megan Harrison: ‘From Your his artist statement.

Brow Rise Leaf and Lyre’ Canales cites boardgames and videogames as sourcHarrison’s latest es of inspiration, but body of work is an also considers “the life immersive installaFree, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. altering experience tion of large-scale Thursday-Sunday, March of travel, parenthood, creations depicting 4 through May 29, Blue loss and the pandemwhat appears to be Star Contemporary, 116 ic.” the inside of a womb.

Blue Star, (210) 227-6960, In B’okay, Canales’ Found within these bluestarcontemporary.org. robotic figure is covmassive paintings and ered in a skin of artifiink-stained surfaces cial flowers and leaves, are intimate family a merging of geometportraits and small figric and organic shapes, emblemizing urative sculptures centered around the the creations that occur in nature and concept of fertility. However, a jaggedthose made by human hands. Alness or roughness imbues the endless though frozen in time, Canales’ figures abstract shapes that fill the walls. are made for movement and seemingly A tiny portrait of a baby, umbilical represent a yearning to escape their cord still intact, is affixed to the center contained spaces. back wall. It becomes hard to breathe with the realization that this work is a meditation on love and loss and all Justin Korver: ‘Buck’ the emotions a mother must endure upon giving birth to a stillborn child.

While many of the works in Korver’s A book of poetry lies open elsewhere in exhibit take on a comical or campy the gallery, displaying the words, “To tone, it doesn’t shy away from addressthe one who is knocking and knocking, ing serious subject matter. “Buck” is an will you still be there when the door examination and rejection of tradiopens?” tional gender roles, focusing on the “As my world contracted through relationship between the hunter and grief and pandemic isolation, I created prey animal, in this case, the deer.

Jimmy Canales

“My interest in hunting as a subject is due to my dad who is an active hunter,” Korver writes in an artist statement.

“He was my first model of traditional masculinity and what men were supposed to be, a mold I did not fit.”

When walking through the exhibition, it’s difficult not to think of the

1942 animated Disney film, Bambi, which features a feminized, whitetailed fawn with batting eyelashes that many forget is male.

In the sculpture Tenderest Meat, Korver transforms an open carcass, its innards spilling, into a landscape featuring leaping fawns.

sacurrent.com | March 23 - April 5, 2022 | CURRENT

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CURRENT | March 23 - April 5, 2022 | sacurrent.com

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San Antonio actor Jesse Borrego, a first-year Academy member, reveals his favorite films, performances of last year

BY KIKO MARTINEZ

L

ast summer, actor and San Antonio native Jesse Borrego (Blood In, Blood Out) was one of 395 movie professionals invited to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Now, for the first time in his career, Borrego is a voting member of the body, and he recently cast a ballot for this year’s Oscars.

Through its diversity initiatives, the 2021 class, according to the Academy, was made up of 46% women, 39% from underrepresented ethnic communities and 53% from countries outside of the United States.

During an interview with the Current, Borrego talked about his first year as an Academy member and — without revealing who he voted for — named some of his favorite films and performances of last year.

The 94th annual Academy Awards ceremony takes place Sunday, March 27, 2022, at 7 p.m. For a complete rundown of nominees, visit oscars.org.

What was your experience as a firstyear member of the Academy?

It was good to be able to see it from the inside out. We’re getting to see a lot more representation [in Academy membership]. It was a good feeling to be a part of it and see what’s happening now. People are now advocating for more representation, and it’s effective.

As an actor, if you’re not involved in one of the nominated films, you’re usually on the outside looking in.

How did you handle all the Oscar movies you got to screen over the last few months?

It was easy to binge watch [the films] instead of binging Netflix shows. As a cinephile, you really get to enjoy them at a whole new level.

So, what Oscar nominees did you like?

The Power of the Dog was very strong as a total film. It has a lot of great performances. I think Andrew Garfield was incredible in Tick, Tick … Boom. That one was a surprise. I would have liked to see it get more nominations.

What did you think about West Side Story?

I love the musical genre, and I’m glad it’s coming back. I loved In the Heights and Tick,

screens

Oscar Buzz

Ray Santisteban

Tick … Boom. I’m not a big fan of franchises or remakes. I thought West Side Story was fabulous, but the perspective was not my favorite. I don’t think it was necessarily the correct, contemporary perspective of the Latinx culture. West Side Story is a musical theater perspective on urban culture, but it was the urban culture of that time. I wouldn’t redo West Side Story unless some Latinos came in and wrote a whole new version of the script and the score, but then it wouldn’t be West Side Story, right? Still, anything Steven Spielberg touches is genius. I don’t think it’s wrong that it’s up for Best Director, but Best Picture? Why would you make the exact same movie 50 years later and give it Best Picture again?

Director Jane Campion (The Power of the Dog) has won just about every precursor award leading up to the Academy Awards. Seems like the Oscar is probably hers to lose.

Her work was incredible. As an outlier to the [Western] genre, it was an incredible piece.

It sounds like you want to see more original work in Hollywood.

I want to see a fresh perspective! I don’t mind if they use old stories for inspiration, but there has to be a new perspective, especially if you’re talking about diverse voices.

You just described my favorite film last year, CODA. At its core, it’s a narrative we’ve seen countless times before, but it was told in such a beautiful way.

[CODA] to me is the [Best Picture nominee] that stands out. Film is an artform. The goal is to provoke, to create discussion, to teach, to grow, to entertain. I thought CODA accomplished that on so many different levels. I thought it was great seeing a film where you could enjoy that.

Who didn’t get nominated that you thought should have?

As a first-time filmmaker, I thought Lin-Manuel Miranda should have gotten a [Best Director] nomination [for Tick, Tick … Boom].

That didn’t feel like a movie made by a firsttime director. Also, I really thought Clifton Collins Jr. should have been nominated for Best Actor [for Jockey]. Those are the two that stuck out to me.

What are your plans for watching the Oscars?

It’s like the Super Bowl for me. I like how they’re really trying to diversify the ceremony with different hosts and presenters. But I’m going to pay attention to see if I voted for the winners. Everyone nominated deserves to be there. They’re all Oscar-worthy. It’s all about getting enough support and then seeing where the chips fall.

Find more film stories at sacurrent.com

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CURRENT | March 23 – April 5, 2022 | sacurrent.com

food

‘Time to Grow Up’

After launching his culinary career in SA, Robbie Nowlin is back and heading up the highly anticipated Allora

BY NINA RANGEL

F

rom San Antonio to Los Angeles and back again, celebrated chef Robbie Nowlin has gotten around. Along the way, he’s worked in some of the most lauded kitchens in the country, including chef Thomas Keller’s revered Michelin-starred San Francisco eatery The French Laundry.

These days, Nowlin is focused on preparing decadent, handmade pasta at newly opened Allora. The Pearl-area Italian restaurant was one the most hotly anticipated new dining spots in San Antonio.

We sat down with Nowlin, 38, to talk about the new venture, the zen of creating egg-yolk pasta dough and life lessons he’s learned over a culinary career that’s spanned more than two decades.

The menu for Allora takes heavy inspiration from the Amalfi coast of Italy. Is that the kind of food you like to eat?

It’s really about the homemade bread and homemade pasta … and yeah, that’s been in my wheelhouse for a long time. You know, when I was a young boy at [chef Jason Dady’s lauded past eatery] The Lodge of Castle Hills, [Playland and Battalion chef] Stefan Bowers was literally the first person to teach me how to make pasta. And then, the French Laundry showed me how to make an eight-yolk pasta recipe that I use to this day, even at Allora.

So, it’s something I was taught growing up through kitchens, and I love it. Making pasta dough is one of my favorite things, the process is so zen. It’s a massive fucking menu — I think we’re up to 42 items — and it will change throughout the seasons. We’re getting pretty close to all the spring goodies. So, I’m excited about morel mushrooms, peas, rhubarb, all that stuff.

Let’s chat about your reintroduction to this market. Safe to say, when you left San Antonio in 2017, people didn’t call it a “foodie destination” like they do today.

During COVID, I’m chilling in my apartment in downtown Los Angeles, and I get a call from [Allora owner] Peter Selig about this opportunity. He asked if I wanted to be a partner, and it was like … if I’m going to come back [to San Antonio], this is the time. On an acute level, the Pearl is lucky because they have a special kind of foot traffic that’s never

Jason Chetwood

been seen in a small area in San Antonio.

Every single restaurant here is busy as shit, all the time.

You’ve been in this game a long time. Give me two life lessons you learned between your first big gig at age 25 and now.

I would say, to be a successful chef, you have to not only worry about the quality of food but your bottom line as well. Labor and food costs were things that I was probably very irresponsible about in my earlier days. Since I started, I’ve realized that diligent attention to food and labor cost is really what keeps you alive. These days, I get very excited about those details, menu placement, pricing and what the guests want. When I was super young and worked for [Jason Dady], I used to tell him, “Jason, I want to put foie gras, caviar on the menu.” And he’d be like, “Dude, you got to give them what they want until you’re able to give them what you want.” And so, I think that was a really cool lesson from back when I was a kid, learning how to be patient.

That was also something that got stronger through COVID. Remembering the impor-

tance of patience with your staff, understanding the elements of what’s going on in the world and, and not being, you know, that Gordon Ramsay anymore. Those two things are probably the biggest I’ve learned over my career: it’s not about you, it’s the bottom line, and don’t be the dickhead chef.

Do you think the “dickhead chef” persona is an outdated perception? People often think chefs engage in all sorts of bad behavior. How do you think the perception of chefs has changed, if at all?

There’s just a lot less tolerance for [that behavior] now. I think young cooks and servers just don’t want to be in an environment where the chef is angry all the time. I think COVID really made people do a double take, and people had time to think about what they want to do in life. There was definitely an era, you know, when it was cool — a chef was a rock star. Back then, there was never a dull moment in my DMs, let me tell you that. But I no longer have the energy or patience for that. For me, it’s now about being a successful businessman. … It’s time to grow up.

Find more food & drink news at sacurrent.com

AS WE SAY GOODBYE IN APRIL, WE’D LIKE TO THANK ALL OF OUR CUSTOMERS FOR SUPPORTING US OVER THE YEARS. WE HOPE TO MEET AGAIN. CHEERS, THE LOCAL BAR E. Houston St.

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food Every One’s a Winner

The namesake pastries at Fat Tummy Empanadas excel, whichever filling you choose

BY RON BECHTOL

P

utin’s invasion of Ukraine has stirred things up beyond the region of the conflict.

Cultural institutions, English soccer clubs, stock markets and even New York’s revered Russian Tea Room have suffered as a result.

But it may not have been expected that a modest, mom-and-pop restaurant on San Antonio’s West Side should feel obliged to purge references to Mother Russia from its menu. Alas, the ensalada rusa at Fat Tummy Empanadas is no more. The once-and-former Russian salad, a mayonnaise-heavy mélange of potatoes, carrots, peas and hard-boiled eggs popular throughout Latin America, has been recast as a simple potato salad, the owner told me with a shrug during a recent visit.

Nothing else on the establishment’s resolutely Argentine menu has changed, nor should it. The “how do you pick your favorite child” cliché applies when choosing among the dozen savory empanada fillings offered by the restaurant. All are tucked into packets of tender dough as taut and smooth as a baby’s belly and baked to a golden sheen.

Diners can choose to eat in Fat Tummy’s unpretentious dining room, but taking your partially baked order to go is also an attractive option. No rush to get home — just pop those empanadas into a 400-degree oven when you arrive and 10 minutes later, they’ll emerge fat and happy.

Another suggestion: ask for extra chimichurri, the classic Argentinian sauce of parsley, garlic and olive oil. The spot sells the sauce in 8-ounce jars of original or spicy, and both are good.

Given the quality of the fillings, you can almost throw a dart at the menu board. I tried seven out of the 12 savory options and would repeat any. But I did have favorites — namely the beef and potatoes; the humita with fresh corn, onions and a two-cheese blend; and the chile poblano with lightly caramelized onions, corn and two cheeses.

The traditional beef is also a must-try with its classic combo of finely ground meat, chopped hard-boiled egg and olives — all a great foil for the chimichurri. Chicken breast features in two options, and my only criticism is that I’d prefer it less finely chopped so it adds some texture. Otherwise, the flavors in the chipotle-accented spicy chicken struck just the right balance.

The chicken, spinach and cheese features three, not two, cheeses. Yes, the queso dominates, but just go for the goo and add more chimichurri in compensation.

Meanwhile, the Argentinian chorizo and eggs fea-

Ron Bechtol

tures an abundance of the country’s favorite streetside snack, beef-and-pork chorizo, which dominates the herby filling.

At Fat Tummy, you can also sample Argentina’s favorite way of serving the sausage — the grilled choripán. A staple at soccer stadiums across the country, the dish couldn’t be simpler: grilled chorizo nestled into a French-style bun and dressed with an immoderate amount of chimichurri.

Fat Tummy’s bright and snappy sausage arrives desnudo on the bun, allowing the diner to decide how much sauce constitutes “immoderate.” It also comes

with either fries or a surprisingly substantial salad, and I took the additional liberty of piling some of my greens as well.

To finish off the meal, don’t forget to sample the smaller, sweet empanadas of dulce de leche and guava with cream cheese. The latter is especially lush.

But don’t sleep on the house-made version of the alfajor that’s available in packaged form. The popular dessert consists of two, buttery cornstarch-flour cookies bracketing a filling of dulce de leche, and it’s amazing.

FAT TUMMY EMPANADAS 2927 W. Commerce St. | (210) 396-7288 | fattummyempanadassa.com Hours: 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Tuesday-Wednesday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Thursday-Saturday Entrée prices: Savory Empanadas, $4.20; Sweet Empanadas, $1.59 Best bets: Throw a dart The skinny: Fat Tummy exists to do Argentine-style empanadas, and each of the dozen savory options has its pleasures. But make sure to try the traditional beef for a grounding starter — either in the small dining room or to take home and reheat. Among the smaller sweet empanadas, the classic dulce de leche and the guava and cream cheese stand out. Also consider the street and stadium food classic that is the choripán: sausage on a bun slathered with the inevitable and omnipresent chimichurri sauce.

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food

OPENINGS L&L Hawaiian Barbecue has opened a second SA-area location in New Braunfels. 156 Texas Highway 46 #200, New Braunfels, (830) 312-5025, llhawaiianbbqsa.com.

Locally owned Sofia’s Pizzeria will expand to two North San Antonio neighborhoods this year, opening shops at U.S. Highway 281 and Bitters Road and at the corner of Evans Road and TPC Parkway. sofiaspizzeriatx.com All-you-can-eat sushi spot Sushi Haya is now open near Hardberger Park. 226 W. Bitters Road, Suite 120, (210) 370-9332, sushihayasa.com.

NEWS

will add a new roof deck and dining room to its already massive footprint. The upgrades are scheduled for a June 1 completion. 501 E. Crockett St., (210) 253-9919, smokedowntown.com.

Whataburger’s 2022 Fiesta San Antonio medal features a spinning Honey Butter Chicken Biscuit breakfast sandwich as its centerpiece.

Burger haven Fuddruckers will open a new, “non-traditional location” in San Antonio’s North Star Mall sometime this year.

Fiesta San Antonio foodie event Taste of the Republic will head to location this year, moving from its usual digs at downtown’s Marriott Plaza to The Good Kind in Southtown. 1127 S. St. Mary’s St., (210) 801-5892, eatgoodkind.com.

Downtown San Antonio’s Smoke Skybar + BBQ

Facebook / L&L Hawaiian Barbecue - New Braunfels

sacurrent.com | March 23 – April 5, 2022 | CURRENT

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Courtesy Image / Port San Antonio

High-Tech Hall

purse, offering $40 million. The winning team split $18.2 million of the total.

Can SA’s Tech Port Center thrive with a mix of music and esports?

BY SANFORD NOWLIN

I

f the developers of San Antonio’s newest entertainment venue have their way, ticket buyers won’t just be flicking their Bics for encores, they’ll be pressing reset buttons on their controllers to start the next game.

The $70 million Tech Port Center + Arena will make its debut in early May, bringing the South Side its first sizable concert venue. To that end, the 3,200seat facility has already raised the curtain on a varied music lineup that kicks off with a show by ‘90s rock act Smashing Pumpkins.

But live music is just part of the plan for the arena, overseen by LA-based venue-management giant ASM Global. Tech Port wants to put San Antonio on the map for esports — competitive videogaming events that can draw crowds comparable to those of top touring acts.

“Because of the mixed-use nature of this venue, I think we’ve increased our marketability,” said David Grundy, ASM’s director of operations for the new arena. “We’ve got a state-of-the-art facility, and we’ll be able to do concerts, to do esports, to do comedy, maybe even to do boxing.”

Tech Port is the latest development at Port San Antonio, the 1,900-acre business park at the site of the former Kelly Air Force Base. Port officials bankrolled the arena project in hope of raising profile for the park, nestled in the city’s largely overlooked southwest quadrant.

So far, so good. Tech Port’s May 2 Smashing Pump-

36

CURRENT | March 23 – April 5, 2022 | sacurrent.com

kins show is all but sold out. What’s more, the arena grabbed headlines with a string of other concerts announcements including Southern rapper Kevin Gates, Mexican indie-pop singer Carla Morrison and Grammy-nominated San Antonio rock outfit Nothing More.

The bookings should come as little surprise given ASM’s strong industry rep. Adding to the star power, Tobin Entertainment LLC, the tour promotion arm of San Antonio’s Tobin Center for the Performing Arts, has also inked a deal that allows it to book acts into Tech Port.

Given esports’ lower public profile in San Antonio, that part of the Tech Port puzzle may look less certain to outsiders. However, Grundy expects gaming competitions to account for half of the venue’s bookings, noting the tournaments’ worldwide growth and a rapid expansion of esports programs on high school and college campuses.

The global market for esports competitions hit $947.1 million in 2020 and is projected to reach $1.6 billion by 2024, according to market research firm Statista. Such events regularly draw tens of thousands of visitors, and the largest ever, a StarCraft tournament in South Korea, boasted more than 120,000 attendees.

As the market grows, so do the profile of esports events and the prize money they pay out, observers also note. In October, the International Dota 2 Championship set a record for an esports tournament

Tech-savvy To the brass at Port San Antonio, the venue’s esports orientation feeds into its focus of attracting technology startups and tech-savvy workers.

The business park has amassed roughly 80 tenants, which includes not just aviation holdovers from its air base days but firms in cutting-edge fields such as robotics and cybersecurity. The port also hosts the San Antonio Museum of Science and Technology, a frequent site for school field trips.

However, except for those schoolkids and the port’s 15,000 workers, few other Alamo City residents have had reason to visit. Port San Antonio CEO Jim Perschbach hopes Tech Port, which can also host business conferences and conventions, can change that while evolving into a revenue generator.

“If we can bring in hundreds of thousands of people every year, they may be down here for a concert, but then they see the museum and they see the show place and they see some of the technology being developed,” he explained.

“They may come in for a business conference and get to see the activities that we have. And hopefully some of that will go beyond just awareness and will go into helping us further attract companies to this campus, entrepreneurs to this campus, institutes to this campus — and keep us growing.”

Beyond the concerts and esports, Tech Port will house Austin-based tech accelerator and incubator the Capital Factory’s Center for Defense Innovation as well as a business conference center and the San Antonio Museum of Science and Technology, which is being relocated from elsewhere at the port.

General Manager Eric Blockie, Operations Director David Grundy and LAN Director Allie Snodgrass tour Tech Port Center + Arena.

M

The facility also will house a food hall with a full bar, something Perschbach said will also add to its draw — especially since dining options are limited around the former base.

When it opens in May, the hall will include outlets from local restauranteurs Brevity Coffee, Big Bib BBQ and Capo’s Pizza. Cherrity Bar will run both a Kuriya ramen shop and a La Tienda de Birria taqueria, while Earl Abel’s will oversee its name-brand diner concept along with a sandwich shop called The Pantry.

“If we’re operating this correctly, we’ve got plenty of room to bridge between entertainment and industry and technology,” Perschbach said.

From the ground up So far, Tech Port’s concert announcements have outpaced those for its esports events.

But stand by, ASM officials said, they’re coming.

Last week, the arena revealed that it’s landed a May 6 showdown between rival Dallas and Houston teams in Blizzard Entertainment’s Overwatch league, an event likely to pull up to 1,200 attendees. The tourney will be the league’s first in-person event since 2020. The gathering will also mark the first public unveiling of Overwatch 2, the game’s much-anticipated sequel.

A second Overwatch tournament coming in late May or early June is expected to draw

considerably more attendees since it’s national in scope, Tech Port officials noted.

San Antonio isn’t exactly an early entrant to the esports game. The Dallas-Fort Worth area’s 2,500-capacity Esports Stadium debuted in 2018, becoming one of the first such venues designed specifically for gaming competitions. Multi-use arenas including New York’s Barclays Center and San Jose, California’s SAP Center have also become esports hubs.

Even so, Tech Port officials say they expect to make headway because the facility is among the first designed for esports from the ground up. The site features huge amounts of data capacity, G5 wireless and its own video production center, including six in-house cameras.

“Those other arenas were retrofitted for gaming events,” said Allie Snodgrass, Tech Port’s LAN manager. “We’re an arena built for gaming events.”

Being equipped those tech extras is vital for facilities that want to compete in the esports market, industry analyst Roger Entner of Recon Analytics said. First, gamers will expect it, and second, their ability to share video will help raise the profile of the venue since the footage gets views worldwide.

“When you’re talking about these esports events, every person in attendance is a creator,” Entner said. “They want to livestream and show video of themselves meeting their favorite gladiators. And it has be on video.

Selfies are so 4G.”

Sweet spot Bells and whistles aside, Tech Port’s capacity hits a sweet spot for the city, according to observers. The venue’s 3,200 seats put it be-

music

Sanford Nowlin

Jaime Monzon

Smashing Pumpkins will be the first act to perform at the new arena. The show is nearly sold out.

M

tween downtown performance spaces — the 1,800-seat Tobin Center and 2,300-seat Majestic Theatre, for example — and considerably larger venues including the 12,000-seat Freeman Coliseum, 18,500-seat AT&T Center and 20,000-seat Real Life Amphitheater.

Of course, Tech Port is coming online just as two other high-profile venue projects make headlines. But, again, neither looks like it will hem in on the South Side venue.

The Pearl’s forthcoming Stable Hall will seat just 1,000, making it more the size of a large club, and the proposed renovation of Sunken Garden at Brackenridge Park would give it a total capacity of roughly 7,000. “[Tech Port] is doing an amazing job of building a high-quality entertainment facility, which happens to be 1,000 seats bigger than we are,” said Aaron Zimmerman, vice president of programming for the Tobin.

“That gives us more leverage to bring in talent that otherwise would have passed San Antonio by.”

Zimmerman acknowledges that San Antonians may not be used to thinking of the former Kelly AFB as an entertainment destination, but he points out that the arena is just 18 minutes from downtown.

Not to mention, a venue’s draw is more based on the quality of its bookings than its zip code. Something that likely applies whether it comes to a touring band or an esports tournament.

“I’ve heard people raise the concern about its location, but I think that’s a perception that will quickly go away,” Zimmerman said.

Reminder:

Although live events have returned, the COVID-19 pandemic is still with us. Check with venues to make sure scheduled events are still happening, and please follow all health and safety guidelines.

38

CURRENT | March 23 – April 5, 2022 | sacurrent.com

music Flooded Festival

South by Southwest’s commercialization is symbolic of Austin’s larger problems

BY BILL BAIRD

S

outh by Southwest is back, baby! Well, sort of.

After a two-year COVID break, the hyper-frenzied music-film-tech-etc. fest returned March 11-20, albeit to a changed Austin.

After topping countless “hip” lists and attracting displaced tech libertarians — hello, Mr. Musk — the festival’s host city is deep in an intractable housing crisis, the likes of which have already infected other beloved cultural hubs. Hello, San Francisco, Seattle and Manhattan.

San Antonio would do well to learn from Austin’s housing quandary. The same issues — rising prices, displacement, the erasure of the character that make a city distinct — are already on our doorstep. But we’ll get back to that.

I’ve been attending SXSW for 20 years, and every year I sound more and more like the whining old men I used to ridicule. “Son, you should have been there back in my day!” Well, yeah, maybe you should have. Don’t get me wrong, there’s still much to like about SXSW, but where it now feels like a well-oiled engine of commerce, it once was a mellow, occasionally slapdash gathering with room for surprise.

There were more house shows, more impromptu warehouse performances and fewer yuppies. Corporate branding hadn’t reached the point of ubiquity.

This year’s SXSW may not have featured Lady Gaga barfing glitter inside a three-story Doritos bag — yes, that happened pre-pandemic — but it was still awash in symbols of the festival’s shift away from its homespun roots: endless advertisements for cryptocurrency and NFTs, everything stamped with a corporate sponsorship and smiling sales folk shilling new beverages. Weird Water, Music Water or oat milk, anyone?

“We’re looking at a plant-based future,” one particularly ambitious oat milk peddler told me. “Plant-based food, plant-based music.” Huh. Nothing beats seeing a fern shred a guitar solo.

In many ways, SXSW’s bigger-is-always-better, let’s-see-how-else-wecan-monetize-this-thing approach is emblematic of the housing crisis that

looms behind it.

“Everything in Austin is rapidly becoming more expensive, partially due to real estate being held as an investment rather than as a place to live,” Ethan Smith, a former housing Advocacy director for the University of Texas’s student government, told me.

Smith is an affordable-housing proponent with a ground-level understanding of the issue since he’s also a musician and service industry worker.

“I don’t mean people wanting to buy a second home and rent it out, but large capital coming in. Companies with billions in market valuation. It’s a national thing.”

Pushed east SXSW is an extension of Austin.

There’s no getting around it. And the billions of investment dollars now sloshing around the city can’t help but affect the festival as well. Like Austin’s resident musicians themselves, the festival seems displaced.

Rising property values have shifted the beating heart of the city’s music scene east. Ground zero now seems to be Hotel Vegas and the White Horse in the once working-class area east of Interstate 35.

Now composed largely of shot bars and plastic blues-rock venues, 6th Street is a lost cause, even if the buildings are still beautiful. The nearby Red River Cultural District has lost Beerland and Emo’s, two underground rock mainstays. Cheer Up Charlies and the Mohawk remain, but new clubs are moving further south and further east.

“There’s less centralization,” Smith explained.

During previous SXSW installments, vacant lots along the East Side provided ample room for all sorts of events.

Many of those spaces have now been filled in with towering condos, some apparently shoddy beneath their sparkling exterior.

After attending a party for the upcoming Butthole Surfers documentary, I walked past a row of faux luxury condos whose ground floor window

Jaime Monzon

ads extolled the virtues of residency there. The images showed a shirtless man, chiseled and oily, running on a treadmill while a couple clinked glasses of bubbly inside a hot tub. However, the building’s exterior wall had already begun to crumble, revealing polystyrene under the tasteful pastel paint.

Yes, a polystyrene condo. The façade felt indicative of a gold-rush mentality pervading not just in Austin but all Central Texas.

Killing the golden goose Ultimately, musicians, artists and the working class are hardest hit by the rising housing costs. By virtue of its exploding economy, that’s killing the city’s proverbial golden goose.

“A lot of our local musicians start as students, and I think we’re losing a lot of those students after they graduate,” Smith said. “They can’t stick around and be broke musicians. Paying the rent in Austin is burdensome for most folks if you’re not working a full-time job. That was not the case 10 years ago here, when you had this entire class of people who didn’t work full-time jobs or were in the service industry and were able to make ends meet. The city

Audience members watch a show at SXSW. You’re never far from corporate branding at the festival.

M

has tried to counter this in certain ways but if housing costs continue rising 20% to 40% year to year, what you wind up with is less musicians.”

That doesn’t bode well for the city that declared itself the Live Music Capital of the World.

As this year’s SXSW wound down, it was clear much remained the same.

Barton Springs is still cold, I-35 is still a nightmare and the festival is still overflowing with fantastic bands — even if they’re more spread out. Just the same, the city and the festival have both morphed significantly from their charming, low-key origins.

Let’s hope both are older and wiser, and trying to avoid becoming victims of their own successes.

Whether they succeed will have a significant impact on San Antonio. More and more folks are drifting southward in search of affordable housing options, potentially worsening the growing crisis in our own city.

sacurrent.com | March 23 – April 5, 2022 | CURRENT

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CURRENT | March 23 – April 5, 2022 | sacurrent.com

music listings Wednesday March 23

Chew It’s difficult to categorize Chew, an Atlanta-based trio that creates an all-consuming cacophony of electric rock that veers between funk, psych and more extreme sounds. Seems like a worthy exploration for folks who love synthesizers, samplers and noise rock in any variety of combinations. Warstories and Secretkink open the show. $10, 7 p.m., Paper Tiger, 2410 N St. Mary’s St., (800) 513-7540, papertigersatx.com. — Enrique Bonilla

Friday, March 25 The Sarafonics San Antonio indie-rockers The Sarafonics take inspiration from classic artists including Bob Dylan and The Beatles. A sprinkle of folk and psychedelic stylings, along with a deft sense of melody, help differentiate the band from the myriad who have drawn from similar influences. $10-$15, 6 p.m., Vibes Underground 1211 E. Houston St., (210) 255-3833, facebook.com/vibesunderground. — BE Jesse Daniel Daniel is pulling into SA after dropping his newest release Beyond These Walls, an album that shows that while the singer may be new to the country scene, he’s making quick strides.

Walls features a long roster of veteran performers and writers that helped him bring his stories about addictions, prison and love to musical fruition. $12-$60, 9 p.m., Sam’s Burger Joint, 330 E. Grayson St., (210) 223-2830, samsburgerjoint.com. — BE

Saturday, March 26 Kharma and Dare Two hardcore bands on a co-headlining tour always promises for a punishing evening, and this one certainly seems configured to bring the pain. Kharma released the EP Most Dangerous Game in 2020. Dare dropped its acclaimed LP Against All Odds in 2021. You’ll have to hit the show to find out if the latter band is attempting to Phil Collins with that title. We wouldn’t wager on it. $15-$17, 6 p.m., Vibes Event Center, 1223 E. Houston St., (210) 255-3833, vibeseventcenter.com. — Mike McMahan Chris Conde, Alyson Alonzo, Wayne Holtz Austin-by-way-of-San Antonio rapper Chris Conde is leaving the Lone Star State for Brooklyn, but not before delivering this show with a couple of other queer SA artists as a sendoff. Conde is working on a new album featuring legendary underground hiphop producer Blockhead (Aesop Rock), Lazerbeak (Lizzo, Doomtree) and Morgan Lander of nu-metal act Kittie, so this might be your last chance to get a sneak preview before it drops. $10-$12, 8 p.m., Brick at Blue Star, 108 Blue Star, (210) 262-8653, brickatbluestar.com. — Sanford Nowlin

married to Julia Roberts for a minute there. Still questioning his bona fides? In 2002 he was trapped against a fence by a bull on his uncle’s ranch and was injured severely enough that he took six months off from touring. This one may be worth seeking out scalped tickets. Sold Out, 7 p.m., Gruene Hall, 1281 Gruene Road, New Braunfels, (830) 606-1281, gruenehall.com. — MM

Monday, March 28 Ministry, Helmet The legendary industrial-metal act fronted by Al Jourgensen continues to lean heavily on thrashy guitars and over-the-top lyrics even decades after it first burst onto the scene. What started as a synth-pop group dropped any pretense of that sound vanished by the time the band dropped its 1989 magnum opus, the metal-fueled LP The Mind is a Terrible Thing to Taste. Ministry’s latest, Moral Hygiene, landed in October 2021 and even features a cover of the Stooges’ “Search and Destroy.” That title could be the mantra for Jourgensen’s career, if you want to get right down to it. Legendary alt-metal pummelers Helmet share the bill. $44.50-$180, 6 p.m., Aztec Theater, 104 N. St. Mary’s St., theaztectheatre.com. — MM

Tuesday, March 29 Jesse and Joy This brother-sister pop duo has made a name for itself over the past 15 years with its Spanish love ballads, as evidenced by a pile of Latin Grammy accolades. While their soft musical approach evokes older Ed Sheeran, the duo also shines on upbeat tunes such as “Tanto,” which features Luis Fonsi. $49.50-$149, 7:30 p.m., Aztec Theatre, 104 N. St. Mary’s St., (210) 812-4355, theaztectheatre.com. — BE

Wednesday, March 30 Iya Terra LA-based act Iya Terra features four dudes with dreadlocks, which is to be expected from a band that combines reggae and dub. Why they let that fifth guy get away with short hair is unknown. But we do know is that the band made inroads towards the top of the Billboard Top Reggae Album charts, and in 2020, the quintet contributed a song to The House That Bradley Built, a compilation record paying tribute to late Sublime frontman Bradley Nowell. $18-$100, 7 p.m., Sam’s Burger Joint, 330 E. Grayson St., (210) 223-2830, samsburgerjoint.com. — MM

Thursday, March 31

Sunday, March 27; Tuesday, March 29; Wednesday March 30

Surfaces College Station’s diverse yet accessible Surfaces has been burning up the Billboard pop charts for the past two years. The group’s poppy take on soul, jazz, hip-hop and calypso has garnered critical acclaim as well as a collaboration with music legend Elton John. $29.50, 8 p.m., Aztec Theatre, 104 N. St. Mary’s St., (210) 812-4355, facebook.com/theaztectheatre. — EB

Lyle Lovett Lovett and his Acoustic Group will do a three-night stand at one of the state’s crown-jewel dance calls. Houston-born Lovett is an elder statesman among Texas singer-songwriters and even turned in a memorable performance in Robert Altman’s acclaimed film Short Cuts. His music blends Americana with jazz and soul, and he’s remained a favorite going all the way back to his self-titled debut, released in 1986. Hell, he was even

The Charlie Watts, Black Molly, Los #3 Dinners Tribute bands and garage rock will take over the “Oldest Honky Tonk on the St. Mary’s Strip.” Composed of veteran scenesters, The Charlie Watts serve up Rolling Stones covers with a raw edge, while Black Molly specializes in ’70s proto-metal material championed by famed KISS-FM DJ Joe Anthony. The long-running Los #3 Dinners are known for garage-rock originals with a decidedly San Antonio twist. $10, 9 p.m., Lonesome Rose, (210)

Lyle Lovett Creative Commons / Eric Frommer

455-0233, thelonesomerosesa.com. — SN

Friday, April 1 Together Pangaea Indie rockers Together Pangaea are touring in support of its release DYE, released in October of last year. Hailing from Santa Clarita, California, the group is rooted in garage rock with rippin’ solos, but also expect some pop-punk elements and sophomoric lyrics reminiscent of Blink-182. Together Pangaea have shared the stage with Ty Seagall and Wavves. The band also will tour with the extremely awesome Skating Polly later this year. 7 p.m., $18-$22, Paper Tiger, 2410 N. St. Mary’s St., papertigersatx.com.

— MM 311 Omaha, Nebraska may not seem like the most logical starting point for a band rooted in blending hard rock with funk, rap and reggae. Just the same, 311 built quite a brand over its 30-year career. Beyond the tours and music releases, that includes the band’s own own line of cannabis products and themed Caribbean cruises. $49.50, 8 p.m., Majestic Theatre, 224 E. Houston St., (210) 226-5700, majesticempire.com. — EB

Sunday, April 3 Powerman 5000 Industrial rockers Powerman 5000 are heading back to town, presumably with their cyber goggles and colored spiky hair in tow. The group’s Tonight the Stars Revolt! album cracked the Billboard Top 30 back in 1999, so we’re guessing someone still remembers. $17-$20, 8 p.m., Paper Tiger, 2410 N. St. Mary’s St., papertigersatx.com. — BE Atilla Despite metalcore juggernaut Atilla’s fierce-sounding name, party rock is the vibe. Breakdowns, beer and sweat await those who pull up to Rage Fest, which the band will headline at Vibes Event Center. Atilla has been through San Antonio frequently, so we’re guessing plenty of faithful know what to expect. He is Legend, Islander and Crown Magnetar kick things off. $23, 7 p.m., Vibes Event Center, 1211 E. Houston St., (210) 255-3833, facebook.com/ vibeseventcenter. — EB sacurrent.com | March 23 – April 5, 2022 | CURRENT

41

AUTO AUCTION

MAY 11, 2022 at 3:00P at

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YEAR

MAKE

MODEL

VIN NUMBER

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4516769

1985

OTHER NOT IN LIST

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1RF11031XF1000119

$8,324.17

4317007

2000

OTHER NOT IN LIST

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L6ZDCJLA591003834

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4A9BE1621ND194193

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4343933

2012

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1GRAA06246W703963

$6,765.65

3652545

1998

KAWASAKI

MULE

JK1AFBC19WB504461

$5,399.35

4295497

1994

FRUEHAUF

TRAILER

1H2V04826RE042535

$12,999.34

4775925

2000

OTHER NOT IN LIST

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3058994

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